4 Munster Players In Squad For Scotland

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell, Munster captain Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray will start for Ireland with Tommy O’Donnell amongst the replacements for the 6 Nations opener on Sunday.

O'Connell leads the side against Scotland and will earn his 89th cap for Ireland. He is joined in the second-row by Leinster's Devin Toner with Peter O'Mahony set to earn his 20th cap in the back-row where he is joined by Chris Henry and Jamie Heaslip.

Conor Murray starts at scrum-half and will make his 23rd appearance for Ireland. Tommy O'Donnell could make his Six Nations debut off the bench after an impressive performance for the Irish Wolfhounds against England Saxons last week. O'Donnell will be looking to add to the two caps he earned on the tour of North America last summer.

O’Connell is keen the side start this year’s Six Nations on the front foot. "Momentum can play a big part in the tournament," he said.

"And if you start well things can become a lot easier, so that's the big thing for us in two days time to start with a highly physical, highly intense performance."

Leinster's Brian O'Driscoll will earn his 129th cap on Sunday and become Ireland's most capped player of all time.

The game against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium kicks off at 3pm with Ireland hosting Wales on Saturday week.

Ireland team to play Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations on Sunday (ko 3pm)

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
13. Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
12. Luke Marshall (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Capt
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Replacements

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)